Flange for maintaining a disc on a support

ABSTRACT

A base for holding a disk on which data may be recorded. The base includes a skirt from which elastic tabs depend, free ends of the skirt forming a rim. The rim includes a clipping structure that releasably engages another base. The bases, when engagedly stacked, are fed to a machine for gluing to supports.

The present invention has as a goal, a flange for maintaining a disc on a support of a digital audio disc such as a DVD, CD, CD-ROM that may be stacked with identical flanges.

These information supports include a central hole designed especially for their storage and their mounting on the reading apparatuses; in most cases this hole has a diameter of 15 mm. For distribution to the general public, these discs are included in a case and kept in the latter by latching onto a flange. The latter usually comprises a certain number of projecting elastic tabs on a base. At the upper end of the tabs and on the outer side, a rim is provided for which the diameter of the covering curve is slightly greater than that of the central hole of the disc such that when the disc is placed on the base, the tabs are first brought toward the center, then by elasticity, find their original position again after insertion of the disc, which keeps the latter in position on the base while allowing its removal. The outer covering of the tabs is cylindrical to correspond to the diameter of the central hole of the disc.

Originally, the entire support plus flange was produced in a single operation by injection of plastic material such as polystyrene. Now, for several practical reasons, especially printing, the original plastic case is replaced more and more by a cardboard cover, the flange remaining in plastic material because of its mechanical qualities. This flange is generally glued onto the cardboard plate.

But, of course, in order to reduce packaging costs, the production of such packages is carried out on automatic machines at very high speed.

The problem posed and resolved by this invention, is that of feeding the automatic machines for flanges.

The invention is based on the idea that it is possible to use retractable tabs for carrying out the assembly or stacking of several flanges, the rolls so formed for handling ease and so that they may be easily introduced into a machine which may sample them individually at a very high rate.

According to the invention, the flange comprising a base from which project elastic tabs the free end of which presents a rim is characterized in that its lower part comprises means of latching the upper part of another flange.

Advantageously, these latching means consist of a snap ring or rib, possibly interrupted, the internal diameter of which is less than the diameter of the covering of the rims or pins such that, during the insertion of the upper part of a flange, these means cause the brief moving-aside of the elastic tabs. Then after continuation of the movement, the return of the tabs to the interior of the snap ring ensures hold of the flange in the bottom of another flange.

Thus, it is possible to latch the upper part of a flange in the lower part of another flange and to form a stack or roll that may easily be handled and introduced into a machine for placing flanges on any supports, especially by gluing onto cardboard.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the interior diameter of the snap ring is approximately equal to the diameter of the cylindrical covering of the tabs of the flange, below the rim or upper projection.

The interior diameter of the snap ring may be defined by the presence of a gadroon.

The snap ring may be arranged at the base of the tabs and on the latter and reduced to a group of evenly distributed pins. It may also be formed in the base of the flange.

The invention also aims for a roll or a stack of flanges formed from flanges as defined above, one locked with or on the other.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the description of a specific embodiment that follows, given only by way of nonlimiting example, in regard to the drawings that represent:

FIG. 1, a section along line I-I of FIG. 2 of two superimposed flanges;

FIG. 2, a top view of a flange;

FIG. 3, a perspective view of the latching of one elastic tab on another;

FIG. 4, another embodiment of the latching snap ring.

The same reference numbers designate the same parts in all the figures.

In FIG. 1 it is seen that a flange consists of an upper plate 1 at the top of a cylinder 2. This cylinder rests on a base 6. Base 6 and upper plate 1 present slits 5 that are approximately radial. These slits delimit elastic tongues 7. In the specific embodiment represented, plate 1 and cylinder sides 2 form a centering of a disc on the flange and the diameter of the cylinder 2 is equal to the diameter of the circular hole of the disc (not represented). But of course, the invention may be applied in the case where this centering does not exist, only elastic tabs forming a catching collar in this case.

At the back of each tab 7 a rim 3 is provided with rounded or beveled shape. It is the contact of this rim by the hole of the disc (not represented) which causes the displacement of the upper part of the tabs 7 towards the center of the flange and the passage of the disc around the cylinder 2. The return of the tabs to their original position holds the disk against the base 6 which forms a support surface for the central collar of the disc. That which has just been described, corresponds to a standard flange.

According to the invention, the base 6 rests on any support by a cylindrical rim 10. Within the base 10 a snap ring or coaxial rib 9 is formed. The rib 9 forms a cylindrical chamber 11 in which the upper parts of the tabs 7 from another flange will enter.

In conformance with the invention, the rib 9 at its lower part presents pins or gadroons 4 projecting within the central cavity. The passage of the tabs 7 of the lower flange on these gadroons causes deformation of the tabs 7 and the latching of the latter against the side of the rib 9. Of course, the internal diameter of the rib 9 is equal to the external diameter of the cylinder 2, or is slightly greater such that the cylinder 2 may be introduced into the cavity 11 without extensive friction, other than that of the rims 3 of tabs 7.

That is, as in the case of mounting a disc on a flange, the introduction of the upper part of a lower flange into the bottom of an upper flange causes tightening of the tabs 7 of the lower flange towards the center which allows latching of the latter with the upper or preceding flange when the assembly is made on the rim.

Between the snap ring 9 and the rim 10 an annular chamber 8 is formed, which especially has the goal of receiving an adhesive for attaching on any support after its injection, of course after separation of the flange considered from the stack or roll in which it has been integrated during its production.

FIG. 2 represents a top view of a specific flange given by way of example. This flange has axial symmetry of revolution. Four slits in a “U” shape determine four tabs 7. It is seen in this figure that only the tabs 7 present a rim 3, the covering of which has a diameter greater than that of the cylinder 2. But the flange may be formed only from a group of tabs, in any number, all presenting a rim or projection 3 that allows their temporary approach toward the center.

FIG. 3 represents, in partial section, an assembly of two tabs, each belonging to a flange, superimposed in a stack. On each of the latter tabs, rims 3 are found that are projected laterally above the base 6 with a height approximately equal to the thickness of a disc. The diameter of the cylindrical sector 2 corresponds approximately to the diameter of the hole of the disc. In this example the gadroon 4 is approximately semicylindrical in section. Its presence requires a tab 7 to be folded in the direction of the center.

In FIG. 4, the gadroon 4 is bisected, which facilitates the assembly of two flanges.

It goes without saying that numerous variants may be provided, especially by substitution of equivalent technical means, without leaving the scope of the invention. In particular, it may be adapted to flanges that are not cylindrical in shape. 

1. A base for holding a disc on a support the base being generally symmetrical about a central axis and including: circumferential skirt; elastic tabs projecting generally transverse to the skirt, each elastic tab having a free end including a rim; and latching means extending from the skirt for latching another base.
 2. The base according to claim 1 wherein the latching means includes a discontinuous snap ring having an interior diameter less than an outer diameter of the rim, and including a gadroon at an outer edge of the interior diameter of the snap ring.
 3. The base according to claim 2 wherein the interior diameter of the gadroon has an inner diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of a cylinder covering of the elastic tabs.
 4. The base according to claim 3, wherein the snap ring located proximate a remote end of the tab, on the tabs.
 5. The base according to claim 2 wherein the snap ring is located within the skirt.
 6. The base according to claim 1 including a central cylinder including slits defining the elastic tabs.
 7. A stack of the bases according to claim 1, latched serially.
 8. The base according to claim 1 wherein the latching means includes a discontinuous rib having an interior diameter less than an outer diameter of the rim, and including a gadroon at an outer edge of the interior diameter of the rib.
 9. The base according to claim 8 wherein the gadroon has an inner diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of a cylinder covering of the elastic tabs.
 10. The base according to claim 8, wherein the rib is located proximate a remote end of the tabs, on the tabs.
 11. The base according to claim 8 wherein the rib is located within the skirt. 